Water-motor.



E. M. SHELLEY.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

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WATER MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

993, 1 1 5. Patented May 23, 1911.

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III I m Elfwifi kg 26063 attmmp UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

EDWIN M. SHELLEY, OF PARKE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN M. SHELLEY, a citizen -of the United States, residing at Parke, in the county of York, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vater-Motors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in water motors.

In the use of the over-shot wheel, the diameter of the wheel is usually equal to the height of the fall. Aside from the tremendous cost of such a wheel the weight of the same is excessive; and when it is remembered that the force exerted by the water on any one blade in the wheel continues only for a little over one-eighth of a revolution of the Wheel, it is evident that a trifle less than one-fourth the number of blades must be depended upon to rotate the wheel while the remainder of the blades are idle in the sense that they receive no turning impulse from direct contact with the water. It is manifest, with a construction of this kind, and especially where it is necessary to employ a wheel of considerable diameter in order to gain the proper leverage to drive heavy machinery that the cost of installation and the power lost are exceedingly great.

The present invention therefore aims at the construction of a motor wherein the leverage on the main shaft, produced by the weight of the water, may be increased without increasing the height of the fall, or in other words when the conditions are such that it would be extremely expensive to construct a relatively high dam in order to gain sufficient power to turn a wheel of relatively large diameter the present invention may be employed with a relatively low dam and corresponding low fall and with approximately one-fourth the space that would be necessary to install an over-shot wheel capable of generating an equal amount of power.

One object of the invention is the provision of a main shaft provided with a pair of buckets positioned at different points on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 18, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Serial No. 528,827.

the surface of the main shaft and a reservoir located above the main shaft for feeding water to the buckets.

Another object is the provision of a connection between the buckets so that when one is filled with water from the reservoir and descends it will impart a turning movement to the main shaft and at the same time raise the adjacent empty bucket to a position beneath the reservoir.

A further object is the provision of a connection between the buckets and main shaft so that turning movement will be imparted to the latter only when the buckets descend.

A still further object is the provision of a valve operated by the main shaft to unseal an opening in the reservoir when the bucket is adjacent the latter and to seal said opening after the bucket is filled. And a still further object is the provision of a means for tilting the buckets to discharge their contents after they have descended from the reservoir.

lVith the above and other objects in view as will more fully hereinafter appear, the present invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the device may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification :-F igure 1 is a sectional end elevation of the device. 'Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the cam and valve shafts.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The device is supported from a frame comprising a plurality of standards 5, the upper ends of which are connected by cross pieces 6, the latter in turn being connected by end sills 7. Supported at the forward ends of the cross pieces 6 is a reservoir 8.

This member is preferably of metal and is rectangular in shape, its opposite ends bearing on the forward end portions of the cross pieces 6. The reservoir communicates at one end with a suitable supply pipe (not shown).

The main shaft is designated by the nu meral 9, and has its opposite end portions journaled in brackets arranged at the intermediate portions of the rear end standards, or those farthest removed from the reservoir 8.

The cam shaft is designated by the numeral 10, and has its opposite ends journaled in a pair of brackets 11 and 12, arranged on the upper sides of the cross pieces 6, and to the rear of the reservoir 8, and in an inclined plane with the main shaft 9.

By reference now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that connected to the main shaft 9, are two pairs of buckets. It must be understood, however that I am not to be limited to this specific number since it will be understood, from what will appear later, how a greater number, or a single pair of buckets might be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The buckets are designated in general by the numeral 13, and :are supported at the outer ends of levers 14. The inner ends of the levers are provided with openingsfor the loose reception of the shaft 9, and their outer ends extend beyond the vertical plane of the reservoir 8. Since the buckets are all identical in structure a description of one will be suflicient.

By reference now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that secured to the outer end portion of the lever 14 is the longitudinal central portion of a rectangular plate 15, and hingedly united to the rear end of the plate 15, is a hollow metallic casing 16. The casing 16 corresponds approximately to the size of the plate and is designed to bear upon the upper face of the latter. The lower edges of the walls of the casing may be provided with rubber gaskets so that when the casing bears on the plate 15, a water-tight joint will be formed. The casing is provided with a cover consisting of two sections, designated by the numerals 17 and 18, fixedly secured to the upper edges of the walls of the casing. The section 17 is arranged at an acute angle to the rear end wall of the casing so that when the lever 14 moves upwardly its entire outer surface will bear on the bottom of the reservoir 8. The free end of the section 17 extends to a point adjacent the forward side of the bottom of the reservoir and is spaced from the adjacent free end of the other top section 18. The last-named top section 18 is considerably less in width than the section 17 and is fixedly secured to the edges of the forward end and opposite side walls of the casing and extends at an acute angle to the forward end wall, its lower edge bearing ervoir when the lever is in in Fig. 1.

With the construction illustrated in the drawings wherein two pairs of buckets are employed the bottom of the reservoir will be provided with a double pair of openings directly above the space between the sections 17 and 18, when the buckets are in raised po' sition as shown in Fig. 1. These openings are all valve controlled, each valve in the present instance comprising a stem 19, the lower end of which is provided with a conical shaped head 20, of a size to nicely fit the opening in the bottom of the reservoir. The valve stems 19, are slidingly fitted in brackets 21, carried on the inner face of the front side wall of-the reservoir as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and are operated by a plurality of levers 22, fulcrumed as shown at 23 on the rear side wall of the reservoir. The forward ends of the lever 22 are pivoted to the upper ends of the valve stems as shown at 24 while the rear ends of the levers are up -.turned and provided with rollers 25, which under-lie the cam shaft 10.

The main shaft 9 is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel 26; the sprocket wheel 26 alines with a sprocket wheel 27 keyed to position as shown the valve shaft 10, connection between the said sprockets being established by an endless sprocket chain 28.

The cam shaft 10 is peripherally provided with a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped cams 29. lVith the construction illustrated in the drawings and when four buckets are employed an equal number of cams will be formed on the cam shaft 10 and arranged thereon so that their highest points will be alternately degrees apart. With this construction it is obvious that each pair of cams will be 180 degrees apart.

Keyed to the main shaft 9 are a plurality' of ratchets 30, corresponding in number to the number of buckets and arranged adjacent the levers 14. The levers 14 are provided with spring pressed pawls 31, arranged on the faces of the levers adjacent the ratchets 30. These pawls engage with the ratchet teeth when the levers move downwardly from the reservoir 8 but override the said teeth when the levers move upwardly.

By reference now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that each pair of levers are connected together by means of a rope or cable 32. The rope or cable 82 is trained over a pulley 33 depending from a cross piece 34 secured beneath the reservoir 8, and the length of this rope or cable will correspond approximately to the length of the arc of movement of the levers 14. Thus it can be seen when the parts are in position as shown in Fig. 1 and one of the buckets raised to on the outer edge of the bottom of the res I bear on the reservoir 8, the adjacent bucket and lever will be lowered so that when the first-named bucket moves from the reservoir and descends by virtue of the rope or cable connection between the levers, the lower lever and bucket will be raised into engagement with the reservoir, it being understood of course that the first-named or descending bucket will be filled with liquid while the second-named or ascending bucket will be empty.

In the operation of the device thus far described one bucket of each pair is moved into engagement with the reservoir 8. It will be remembered that the cams 29 are alternately arranged 90 degrees apart and assuming that one of these-cams is turned to lift the valve 20 and hold the said valve lifted until the bucket is filled with liquid from the reservoir. It will be seen that by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, that when the bucket is so filled it will descend and during its downward movement will, by virtue of the pawl 31 impart movement to the main shaft 9 and at the same time, by virtue of the rope or cable connection raise the adjacent bucket. It will be observed that during the descension of the filled bucket that rotary movement will be imparted to the cam shaft through the endless sprocket 28,

so that by the time the filled bucket has reached the limit of its downward movement the alternate cam will have lifted the valve and the second bucket will descend filled with liquid. The descension of the second bucket will likewise, through its pawl, impart rotary movement to the main shaft and also lift the bucket with which it is connected and the rotary movement imparted to the main shaft will,through the sprocket 28 lift the valve to admit liquid into the bucket lifted by the first descending bucket. The latter will be filled and begin to descend by the time the second bucket has reached the limit of its downward movement, whereby the cam shaft will be again rotated through the main shaft and the bucket lifted by the second descending bucket filled and at the same time the bucket that first descended will be lifted to the reservoir, it being understood that the firstnamed bucket has discharged its contents by a device to be described later. This movement of the buckets will continue as long as water remains in ends of a plurality of arcuate shaped metallic strips 35, constituting guides, the lower ends of which are fixedly secured to the floor or other base which supports the frame. The guides 35 curve outwardly to a point substantially in a vertical plane with the outer side of the reservoir 8, and are arranged .in pairs on opposite sides of each of the lovers 14. The outer end portions of the levers adjacent the buckets 13, are provided with recesses in which are rotatably mounted roller bearings 36. Since each of the levers 14 is positioned between a pair of guides and it being understood that the diameter of the roller is greater than the thick- .ness of the lever, it is evident that the roller will bear on the guides during the ascending and descending movements of the lever. Projecting inwardly from the upper end of each pair of guides is a bracket arm 37, which extends to a point adjacent the pulley 33 and extending laterally from the free end portion of each of these bracket arms is a stud 38. Journaled on the studs 38 are bell crank levers 3.9,having arms of unequal lengths, the shorter of said arms extending vertically downward and terminating in a forward extension 40, adapted to engage with keepers 41, fixedly secured to the upper sides of the levers 14 and adjacent the rollers 36. The longer arms of the bell crank levers extend horizontally and rearwardly to a point beyond the vertical plane of the reservoir 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Fixedly secured in the brackets 11 and 12, and directly beneath the cam shaft 10 are the opposite ends of a shaft 42, and journaled on this shaft 42 are the intermediate portions of a plurality of levers 43. The forward ends of the levers 43 extend to points adjacent the rear side of the reservoir 8 and connection between these for ward ends and the rear ends of the bell cranks 39 is established by links 44, the op posite ends of which are pivoted to the bell cranks and levers. It might here be stated, that the levers 43 are in a vertical plane with the lever 22 which operates the valves 20 and the rear end portions of the levers 43 are bent upwardly as shown at 45, to points in alinement with and a trifle above the planes of the rollers 25 at the ends of the lever 22. The upwardly bent ends 45 of the levers 43 are provided with rollers 46, which are arranged directly to the rear of and spaced from the rollers 25 on the valve operating shafts. \Vith this construction it is evident when the cam shaft rotates in clock-wise direction that the cams 29 after lifting the valves, as before described, will next move into engagement with the rollers 46, whereby the rear ends of the levers 43 will be depressed and the opposite or forward ends elevated. The upward movement of the forward ends of the levers 43 will impartalift- &

ence now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that pivoted to the central portions of the forward sides and adjacent the lower edges of the buckets are latches 47. These members are preferably formed of oblong pieces of metal, the intermediate portions of which are pivoted between a pair of cars 48. The lower ends of the latches 47 are provided with rearwardly extending noses 49, adapted to bear on the forward end portions of the lower sides of the levers 14 and serving to clamp the casings to the plates 15. Extending forwardly from the intermediate portions of the latches are short arms 50, extending beyond the vertical plane of movement of the casings and positioned on the floor or other sup ort which supports the frame are a plura ity of trippers 51. The

trippers 51 are preferably of short pieces of metal and extend vertically upward and lie in the plane of movement of ,the short arms 50. IVith this construction it is evident when the buckets descend, as before described, just prior to the completion of the downward movement of the levers 14, the short arms 50 will engage the upper ends of the trippers 51. This engagement between the trippers and arms 50 will rock the upper ends of the latches inwardly until the said upper ends abut against the forward sides of the casings. The levers 14 will now continue to move downwardly and carry with them the plates 15, while the casings will remain stationary. Thus it will be seen when the plates 15 move away from the casings the contents of the buckets will escape. It will be observed when the levers begin to ascend and lift the casings the lower ends of the latches will move toward the casing and the noses 49 again bear on the outer ends of the levers 14, whereby the casings will be again clamped to the plates 15. Thus it will be seen that the operation of tilting the buckets to discharge their contents and again clamp them to the levers will be automatic.

The form of cam shaft employed to operate the valves and releasing mechanism is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be seen by reference to this figure that the shaft 10 is tubular and of less length than the distance between the brackets 11 and 12, and

extending through this tubular shaft 10 is a solid shaft 52, the opposite ends of which are j ournaled in the brackets 11 and 12. That portion of the solid shaft '52 adjacent the bracket 12 and extending in advance of one end of the tubular shaft 10 is provided with a collar 53, which is fixedly secured to the said solid shaft and connection between the said collar 53 and adjacent end of the tubular shaft 10, is established by means of a plurality of spring governors 54. It might here be stated, that the length of the tubular shaft 10, corresponds to the distance between the opposite end levers 22, which operates the valves 20 and it is evident with this construction when the speed of the main shaft 9 exceeds a certain limit that the spring governors will move the said tubular shaft longitudinally, whereby the cams 29 will be moved from alinement with the rear ends of the levers 22 and 43. Thus it can be seen with this construction that the speed of the main shaft 9 can be regulated to any desired degree.

From the foregoing it can be seen that I have provided a device which is exceedingly simple in structure and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, embodying few parts and these so arranged that the danger of derangement will be reduced to a mini: mum.

What is claimed as new, is

1. In a water motor, a main shaft, a lever connected at one end to said shaft and provided at its opposite end with a plate, a hollow casing having one end hingedly united to one end of said plate and a latch for locking the free end of said casing to said plate.

2. In a water wheel, a reservoir, a series of oscillating levers, a shaft having ratchets for each lever, buckets carried by said levers and receiving water alternately from said reservoir, said buckets having stationary bottoms fixed to said levers and having hinged side walls raisable from said bottom, means for automatically locking the bucket sides and bottoms together while filling, and means for automatically rocking the bucket sides open from the bottoms for discharging.

3. In a water wheel, a reservoir, a shaft,

a series of oscillating levers having ratchet connections with said shaft, buckets carried by said levers rising alternately to said reservoir, cam controlled valves within the reservoir operated by said shaft and operating to open and fill said buckets, said buckets having stationary bottoms fixed to'said levers and having sides hinged to said bottom and rockable open therefrom, a catch automatically locking said bottoms and sides together when filling, a fixed stop engageable with and operating to simultaneously hold open said catch and the sides of said buckets for discharging.

4. In a water ,wheel, a shaft, a reservoir having valve controlled outlets, a plurality of oscillating levers having ratchet connections with said shaft, arcuate guide bars directing the movements of said levers, buckboth of said link connections being simulta- 10 ets on said levers rising alternately into neously operatable by said cam shaft.

registration With said openings, a cam shaft In testimony whereof, I affix my signaoperated bydsaid main shaft, 1121111: gonneci ture, in presence of two Witnesses. tions on sai reservoir 0 erata e saic cam shaft to open and clos e said valvgs, and EDWIN SHELLEY link connections on said arcuate guide bars Witnesses:

operated by said cam shaft to lock said B. S. GURRAN, buckets into registration with said outlets, JAMES W. GROVE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

